Xigmatek Asgard III review: affordable enclosure

A basic chassis for a modest system

By David van DantzigThursday 1 November 2012 05:58

Introduction

Xigmatek made a good impression with its Asgard computer chassis, especially among the hardware fans that like the smaller players in the market. The first two versions were affordable, basic but nevertheless quality cases, perfect for consumers that only want the basics and a solid enclosure for their system. Hardware.Info tested the third version that is available for a very affordable £30.

We're generally of the opinion at Hardware.Info that you shouldn't cut corners on the chassis or power supply. For around £60 you get a better-looking case with superior finish, but it's an irrefutable fact that much cheaper chassis are increasing in quality.

One reason for this is that it doesn't cost a lot to give a chassis a rubber finish, painted interior and lots of connectors. The most expensive aspect of a chassis is the mold that's used. A new mold is very expensive, which is why entry-level chassis often closely resemble each other. More high-end designs are beginning to trickle down to the budget segment.

If you have a decent foundation to begin with, it's relatively easy to add a coat of paint or a window while still keeping the price in check. The Xigmatek Asgard III doesn't disappoint in this regard, at first glance at least. When you lift it up, you notice the first way the price was kept down. The chassis doesn't weigh a lot, which means the steel is thinner than usual. The ever-increasing prices for metals makes the materials the main difference between the different price segments, between entry-level and deluxe. Steel is fine, even if it requires a more finishing touch, since edges can be razor sharp if the steel is less than a millimetre thick.

In comparison

We have not yet tested a huge number of chassis in this price class, but we have enough comparison material in order to be able to paint a fair picture. Some are priced similarly, some are more expensive, while others cost less. To make things interesting, we included a number of micro-ATX chassis. These are marked in grey in the charts.

Out of all full ATX chassis the Asgard III is the smallest, but not by much. The Bitfenix Outlaw is almost the same size. The Antec Three Hundred Two stands out in terms of size, but it also costs £55. It will be interesting to see how an entry-level chassis such as the Xigmatek compares to a model from the lower mid-range segment in terms of price.